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Archiver > GENEALOGY-DNA > 2001-03 > 0985540643


From: "Orin R. Wells" <>
Subject: Re: [DNA] Police use of Y chromosome data
Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2001 09:17:23 -0800


At 12:47 AM 3/25/01 -0500, Paul Cuni wrote:
>Does anyone think that the amount of Y-chromosome data has gotten to the
>level where blood at a scene could yield possible surnames of a criminal?

I suspect the mapping of such information is far from anything useful for
the police. Take the Wells for example. If the police were able to
identify a DNA match to someone who had the surname Wells, does not mean
they are any closer to finding their criminal. There are a lot of Wells
lines, sort of like Smith. Origins may also be varied such as adoptions,
assumed names etc. Even if they identified an individual's y-chromosome
matched another and it was indeed a Wells line there may be thousands who
share that particular y-chromosome pattern.

I don't think they will be able to use this too effectively for the near
future. However, it probably would enable them to stop looking for Smith
and Jones except there is no assurance their original pattern was really
from a Wells. What if it was a Smith who used an alias of Wells and got
away with it?



Orin R. Wells
Wells Family Research Association
P. O. Box 5427
Kent, Washington 98064-5427
<>
http://www.rootsweb.com/~wellsfam/wfrahome.html
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